Disney+ has released an action-packed trailer for Andor, the forthcoming 12-episode prequel series set five years before the events of Rogue One, starring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor.
As we’ve reported previously, our first look at the series came from a behind-the-scenes teaser in December 2020 during Disney’s Investors Day. We got a short teaser earlier this year at Star Wars Celebration. Andor has been described as a “tense, nail-biting spy thriller,” with Tony Gilroy, who co-wrote Rogue One, serving as showrunner.
The story begins with the Empire’s destruction of Cassian Andor’s homeworld and will depict his transformation from a “revolution-averse” cynic to a major player in the nascent rebellion who is willing to sacrifice himself to save the galaxy. According to Deadline Hollywood, Luna described Andor as “the journey of a migrant. That feeling of having to move is behind this story—that shapes you as a person. It defines you in many ways, and what you are willing to do.”
Per the official description:
The Andor series explores a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
The ensemble cast also includes Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma, a senator of the Republic who helped found the Rebel Alliance, as well as Forest Whitaker reprising his Rogue One role as Clone Wars veteran Saw Gerrera. Stellan Skarsgård (as Luthen) and Adria Arjona co-star as the resistance fighters who recruit Andor to the cause. Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, Fiona Shaw, Robert Emms, and David Hayman have all been cast in undisclosed roles. Alan Tudyk was supposed to be returning as the reprogrammed Imperial droid K-2SO, but his appearance was scuttled during rewrites.
The new trailer opens onto a remote settlement on high alert as a low-flying Empire spaceship moves into view. “To steal from the Empire, you just walk in like you belong,” Cassian says in a voiceover as we see a small boy (one assumes a young Cassian) sneak into an Empire stronghold, presumably to commit petty theft. “They’re so proud of themselves. So fat and satisfied. They can’t imagine that someone like me would ever get inside their house.”
But the Empire is exerting a stranglehold on Andor, “choking us so slowly we’re starting not to notice,” Luthen says when he approaches a grown-up Cassian to recruit him to the rebellion. “Wouldn’t you rather give it all to something real? I need all the heroes I can get.” Saw knows what to call this: “War.” And Mon Mothma is well placed to help, making herself an irritation to distract the Empire from her true purpose: fomenting a rebellion.
The first three episodes of Andor premiere on Disney+ on September 21, 2022. The remaining nine episodes will air weekly, concluding on November 23, 2022. A second 12-episode season is already in development and purportedly will lead directly into the events of Rogue One.
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